Experience

Days 1-2 Maasai Mara:

From Nairobi we head into the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s premier game parks. The Masai Mara has large herds of plains game (gazelles, antelopes, and giraffes etc) which in turn attract large numbers of carnivores (lions, cheetahs, hyenas and the ever elusive leopards). In the Masai Mara we do three game drives, one evening drive, one full day game drive and a morning game drive on our way out. In most national parks it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a National park is not always easy. This is one of the advantages of using a truck, which gives us superior height, making it easier to see over the surrounding terrain.

Day 3 Maasai Mara to Arusha:

From the Masai Mara we pass back through Nairobi going into Tanzania for an overnight in Arusha. Arusha is the ‘tourism capital’ of Tanzania and a base for exploring Northern Tanzania, strategically located between Mt.Kilimanjaro and some of Tanzania’s best National Parks like Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Tarangire National Park among other attractions.

Day 4-5 Serengeti National Park:

Leaving Arusha behind us, you will journey through the Tanzanian countryside to the Serengeti National Park, crossing vast plains in search of the Big 5 on our way to our bush camp in the heart of the National Park where we will spend two nights listening to the sounds of Africa. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti National park. Expect an early rise in the mornings which give us the best opportunity to view game as they start their day, an unforgettable experience to watch Africa wake up! Afternoon game drives offer their own beauty and give you some amazing photo opportunities.

Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater:

One last early morning game drive in the Serengeti on our way as we head for the Ngorongoro Crater escarpment where you will set up camp and prepare for an early start tomorrow morning.

Day 7 Arusha:

We descend onto the Crater floor in 4×4 Jeeps for an early morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19Kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique ecosystem. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhinos. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater and have our picnic Lunch before we head out of the Park where we meet our Truck again and head out to Arusha again.

Day 8 Arusha to Dar es Salaam:

From Arusha our journey takes us to Dar Es Salaam (Swahili for “haven of Peace”) on the Indian Ocean. Depending on how clear the skies are, we get a chance to see the Kilimanjaro on our way and will also see a changing landscape en-route to the coast. Tonight we camp on the beach of the Indian Ocean.

Day 9-11 Zanzibar:

We travel to Zanzibar by ferry from Dar es Salaam and this journey can take up to 2 or 3 Hours. Conditions are usually smooth but beware the occasional day with rolling seas. Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island, which comes from the many different spices that were grown here by the original Omani settlers. A lot of spices are still grown on the island and make up a large part of the economy of the island. The island does have a more sordid past in that it was once a major slave trading port; and it is still possible to visit the site of the old slave trading markets. The town centre still shows a lot of its Arabic origins in its architecture. It’s fascinating to walk around the labyrinth of old buildings and walled streets. For the beach lovers you can go out of the town and spend some relaxing time on the isolated beaches. There are spice tours that take in all manners of exotic fruits and spices and you can sample many of the tastes and smells first hand. Just off the coast of the old town is Prison Island, where there is a population of giant land tortoises who are happy to share their stretch of beach. We will spend 3 days on the island, generally split between 1 night in Stone Town and 2 nights on the beach where accommodation with breakfast is included however all other meals will be at your own expense during these 3 days. We recommend that you budget around U$200-$300 for your stay on Zanzibar to cover food, transport around the island, optional tours, accommodation upgrades, drinks and souvenirs. Please note that this is a recommendation only as different passengers have widely differing spending patterns.

Day 12 Dar Es Salaam:

Today the group will travel by ferry back to Dar es Salaam and rejoin the truck which will transfer you to the campsite on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.

Day 13 Dar es Salaam to Iringa:

From Dar es Salaam we cross southern Tanzania into Malawi. The route takes us through the Mikumi National Park. This is not an excursion, but, fortunately for us, the road actually passes right through the centre of the park, and it is possible to see numbers of giraffe, antelope and elephants. It is interesting to note that these elephants are very small in stature, which is attributed to the decimation of their gene pool due to poaching.

Day 14-16 Lake Malawi Beaches:

Malawi is a small country in central southern Africa and is dominated by water and mountainous regions. More than 30% of the country’s landmass comprises of Lake Malawi. On our trip through Malawi we visit a number of the small bays along the lakeshore. Snorkelling and diving are available or people can just swim and laze about on the beaches. There is also ample time to visit local villages and the local markets which abound with woodcarvings, the most famous of these being large carved chairs. These chairs have proved very popular with our clients over the years, only to become a problematic purchase when the time comes to send such a large object home.

Day 17 Lilongwe:

We Soak up Malawian culture in the capital. Tomorrow we have a relaxed morning as we will not have to leave early.

Days 18 Chipata:

Today we cross into Zambia which is a transit country to Vic falls where we will have opportunities for numerous activities. We sleep at Chipata, where we can enjoy some nice drinks and the hot showers.

Day 19 Lusaka:

Today we head to the Capital of Zambia and on the way we cross the Luangwa river, see the vast open lands and the ever changing landscapes. We drive through the City Centre on our way to the Campsite.

Day 20 Livingstone:

Today is an easy drive as we head Southwards to the border town Livingstone where we will spend a night before crossing over to the nearby Zimbabwe. You may decide to watch the Victoria Falls from Zambia side today or visit the Livingstone Museum.

Day 21 Victoria Falls:

Finally we cross the border into Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe. You may want to stay two full days to enjoy the many activities available including the option to do an evening river cruise on the upper (above the falls) Zambezi River, which takes about 3 hrs with drinks included. On the Zimbabwe side there are a wide variety of optional activities, the most famous being White Water rafting on the Lower Zambezi. This excursion takes a full day and has 14 plus rapids none below grade 4 (rapids are graded from 1 to 6). Please note that at certain times of the year the rafting may be restricted or even closed due to high water levels (March – May). Bungy jumping is also an option for all those who wish to throw themselves 111 metres head first off a perfectly good bridge. Another optional activity is Jet Boating, imported and improved on from New Zealand. Various flights are on offer, Including light fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, microlight and ultralight, all offering wonderful viewing of the falls. As well as these, there is horse riding, elephant riding and canoeing, not to mention a walk to the falls themselves. Videos and still photographs are available for purchase of most activities, and are a great reminder of your adrenaline filled visit to the mighty Victoria Falls and Zambezi River. At Victoria Falls some members of the group may be continuing with the tour to Capetown and there may also be new members joining for the remainder of the tour Southwards. NB Please note that entrance (approximately 20 USD) to Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls) National Park is not included in your tour price. Accommodation for tonight is included, tomorrow morning you will need to have a booking for your plans. We strongly recommend that you do not arrange onward flights until the following day, but stay overnight in Vic Falls. If you do need to fly out on the final day, we suggest that you do not book a flight before 9pm at the earliest, in case of any unexpected delays.